Cops on patrol for rapist

November 04, 2005|By Kathryn Masterson, RedEye, and news services.

Chicago Police say they have increased patrols on the South Side, where a serial rapist broke into homes and is believed to have murdered one woman, sexually assaulted five women and attacked several others who were able to fight him off.

No arrest has been made in the string of attacks, which happened in an area between 74th and 81st Streets and between Drexel and Jeffery Boulevards, said police spokesman John Mirabelli. Most of the attacks happened between Oct. 1 and 19, but some occurred in September and August.

The assaults all took place between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., police said. The man entered victims' residences while they were asleep and attacked the women.

Police issued a community alert for the offender last week.

He is described as a black male, 30 to 40 years old, 5 foot 9, 200 pounds, with a dark complexion and wearing dark clothing and a dark ski mask.

Tennille Power, the manager of sexual assault services at the YWCA's Harris Center on the South Side, said she is disturbed that city residents didn't learn about the pattern of attacks until one victim was killed.

"Why did it take nine victims for this to be considered a pattern?" Power said. "The community residents are enraged about this."

The YWCA is planning a community forum in the upcoming weeks to inform residents and allow people to speak about the attacks, she said.

Police are encouraging residents to report any suspicious activity.

Anyone with information can call Area 3 Detective Division at 312-747-8272.